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Tips and Tricks

On your wedding day you want all of your guests to have a great time, even the children. There are plenty of ways to make your young guests feel just as special as the adults. Everything from creating a kid friendly menu and sending them home with their own personal wedding favors to offering a variety of activities and games will help to keep them entertained and having fun all through your wedding ceremony and reception. Check out some of our favorite ideas to keep children busy at your wedding.

If the children are old enough why not let them sit at a table of their own.

Set aside a kids only area stocked with coloring books, bubbles, puzzles, ring toss, etc. You can also let them help you capture memories from your wedding with an I spy with my little camera scavenger hunt.

While the parents are sipping cocktails, why not have a signature drink for the kids as well. You can even offer milk and cookies and other kid approved treats. Chances are the adults won’t be able to resist either.

Maybe you are newly engaged and ready to look for the perfect dress, or you already have the dress and just want to look great in it on your big day. Either way, a majority of brides always want to be fit and look their best for their wedding, but not everybody is motivated enough to work out all the time and sometimes it just isn’t that fun. That is why we have created a list of great (and fun) tips and tricks to help get in shape for your wedding. Maybe even get your bridesmaids or future husband to join along.

Take dance lessons.

Grab your guy and jump into the world of ballroom dancing. Tango, waltz, cha-cha take your pick. And if you are brave enough, show your new moves off to your wedding guests. After all, why put in all that hard work if you’re not going to show off a bit.

Join a gym.

This is for someone that is a little more motivated to get up and head to the gym. But you don’t necessarily have to do it alone. Pick an accountability partner to keep you on track. If treadmills and lifting weights aren’t your thing, most gyms offer classes such as, yoga, Pilates, Zumba, cardio kickboxing, or cycle.

Get outdoors.

Hike, bike, run, walk whatever, getting outside does the body and mind good. Even just being outdoors for 30-60 minutes will help reduce stress and keep you healthy.

Free internet workouts.

The internet now a days is full of free printable workouts to try right in the comfort of your own home. The trainers of Tone It Up have a ton of free workouts to tone every part of your body on their website. If you enjoy them and want more you can sign up for a membership. They even have a program called Sweating for the Wedding for brides and bridesmaids specifically. Here is a link to just a couple of their workouts.

What better way to stay motivated than signing up for a race. There are some cities that hold 5ks for brides, bridesmaids and the rest of the wedding party such as the Wedding Fun Run and I Do Dash. Other fun ones that aren’t wedding related include the Color Run, Hot Chocolate 15k/5k, and the Glo Run, with races in nearly every state.

Unique Bachelorette Party.

Opt out of the usually ways of celebrating a women’s departure from singlehood and go with a more unconventional idea of a bachelorette party. With some of the latest fitness trends of SoulCycle and Ballet Barre, why not try out a health-themed party. Another popular trend is aerial yoga. Gracefully suspending yourself 10 feet in the air… sure why not.

While these ideas aren’t proven to lose a ton of weight, they will keep you active and having fun. But in all honestly, don’t “sweat” it too much because no matter what you will be beautiful and glowing on your wedding day.

In honor of Memorial Day last week, we wanted to share with you some of our favorite ways to remember lost loved ones at your wedding. Nothing can compare to physically having all of your loved ones by your side on your wedding day. But by honoring deceased relatives and friends in a way that feels true to your relationship, it allows those people to be there in spirit.

ReleaseAt the end of the ceremony, release balloons, butterflies, lanterns, or any other object that is meaningful to you, for each loved one lost. This is a beautiful way to remember deceased loved ones and make them a part of your special day.

Add a section in the program

If you’re looking for a simple way to honor people, add a small section in the program. This is a great way to incorporate those who have passed away, without taking away from the happiness of the day.

Wear a Special Keepsake

There are many ways you could do this. You could have the groom wear his grandfather’s tie, a bride wear her grandmother’s jewelry, or have her garter made out of lace from her grandmother’s wedding dress, just to name a few. We love this idea, because it really makes it feel like the person is right there with you throughout this special time.

Moment of Silence

Before the ceremony begins, take a moment of silence to remember loved ones that are not able to be with you today.Reserve a Seat

“Reserve” a seat for each person who has passed. You can do this by placing a single flower, a framed photo, or an object that reminds you of them. If you have an outdoor wedding, make sure to pick objects or picture frames that are heavier, so that they don’t blow away during the ceremony.

Make a Donation

Instead of giving your guests wedding favors, let your guests know that you will be making a donation in remembrance of lost loved ones. This is such a significant way to honor loved ones who have passed away.

Pin their Photos to their Bouquet

Pinning photos to the bride’s bouquet is an easy way to incorporate deceased family members or friends into your wedding. In situations where the father of the bride has passed away, attaching his photo to her bouquet is a great way to symbolize him walking her down the aisle.

Earlier this week we talked about a few ways to plan more environmentally friendly weddings–we covered ways to reduce your footprint when choosing flowers and food. This post will cover a few more tips ranging from tabletop decor to your wedding gown!

+Things like baked goods and other consumables make excellent wedding favors. This way, folks can still take something home, but you ensure that it’s something that will be used up and not another knick-knack destined for the landfill. If you choose to do favors in the form of a candy bar or baked goods, be sure to choose recyclable or compostable materials for guests to take them home in.

+Sometimes, the most environmentally friendly thing you can do is make sure items that already exist live a long, full life! So consider heading to the resale shop, borrowing from friends, or even perusing your own home to see what kinds of things you can repurpose for your wedding. Can you buy, borrow, or rent used vases and other decor? Can you wear a vintage gown or have one made from fabric a friend already owns? Can you and your fiance exchange vintage rings? Get creative! All these ideas make great use of existing resources—and anytime you can manage that, you make a big dent in your environmental impact!

+Invitations can use a lot of resources to create and send. If you’re going to plan a wedding with a lighter environmental impact, consider sending primarily electronic invitations to guests. You can always have a handful of print invitations made to keep for yourselves (and parents, close family, your bridal party) and any guests you think may have an easier time managing with a print invitation. Customizable, beautiful electronic invitations are easy to find and becoming more and more popular!

What other tips do you have for planning an environmentally friendly wedding and reception? We’d love to hear from you!

We’re capping off a week of wedding trends with our breakdown of reception trends for the upcoming year!

Unconventional Seating

Couples are foregoing traditional round-table seating for long, rectangular tables and square tables. Longer tables provide a larger area for tablescapes as well as a more intimate vibe. Mix in long tables with square and round tables to create an aesthetically pleasing reception space.

We also love incorporating comfortable seating for cocktail and after-party hours. Seating is great for guests who would rather relax than dance and adds a stylish touch to any space.

Statement Lighting

Candles, candelabras, chandeliers, oh my! Incorporating statement light pieces from strings of light to floating bulbs in both indoor and outdoor receptions are truly the icing on the cake for any reception. An added bonus, statement light fixtures add depth in the background of photos, creating stunning reception shots!

Rustic Elements

Add rustic elements such as cement, cork, wood or stone to your tablescape to create a more casual look or add sparkly stones or metallic accents to create a more glamorous look. We love the contrast wood accents add to any table in any form from place settings to table numbers.

We’re so excited for all of our upcoming 2016 weddings, we can’t wait to see each couple’s unique style! Catch up with the latest in all things Cherry Blossom Events related by following us on Facebook and Instagram, @cherrybevents

The ceremony may be over, but the party is just getting started! A popular trend for many newlyweds is incorporating extra parties into their special weekend. This trend is gaining popularity because many guests and couples don’t want the evening to come to a close. In addition, many couples spend the majority of the reception greeting and chatting with guests and don’t get anytime to spend with close friends and family. Besides, consider it another chance to impress your guests with surprising details and personal touches. Here are some ideas to inspire you!

Cocktail Hour

A cocktail hour is a great way to set the tone and warm guests up for the reception. Keep it simple, but make sure there are enough servers so each guest gets something to drink and eat. Most guests won’t mind standing and mingling, but just in case make sure there are seating options available. Finally, it may be laid back but don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through! Bring in entertainment, exotic cuisine, or personalized drinks.

After Reception Party

Go out and hit the town! If you have a large wedding party consider booking a bar for a private event. Keep in mind that some of your guests may have already started drinking; plan accordingly with a shuttle or taxi service.

Post-wedding Brunch

Newlyweds if you are not leaving for your honeymoon right away, a brunch can be the perfect way to bring the celebration to a close. It’s a great opportunity to thank guests for a lovely weekend, or to spend some quality time with loved ones.

Balancing work, family and social life while planning a wedding can make your head spin, so we’ve compiled a short list of our tried and true strategies to manage our schedules. Whether you’re an old-fashioned pen and paper gal or a tech saavy scheduler, taking a few minutes to schedule will save you time and stress in the long run.

Your New Best Friend: A Monthly Planner

Pick a small paper planner in a cute pattern that will motivate you to actually use your planner. Target, Kate Spade and Erin Condren have a plethora of options that are adorable and practical. Target combines style and affordability, Kate Spade is quirky yet professional and Erin Condren is truly a life planner.

Fill your planner with your weekly and monthly schedules, incorporating multiple colors of ink to differentiate schedules. For example, use purple ink for bridal fittings and blue ink for work functions. In addition, use sticky notes as a way to compile miscellaneous to-do lists and important tidbits to remember.

Target’s planners offer a low price point but high style.

Kate Spade’s quirky planners are the perfect everyday accessory.

Erin Condren is an organizational goddess. Her planner is perfect for schedul

One way to mark multiday projects or weekend getaways is with washi tape. Use light colors and write on the tape to serve as a reminder for days that need to be blocked off such as a bachelorette party weekend getaway!

Integrate your Activities with Online Calendars

Both Google Calendars and iCloud are great options to streamline your schedules to all your devices. Using either a Google or Apple account, create schedules that incorporate times, locations and reminders for important events. This practical option is great for checking your schedule on the go and coordinating meetings with online, shareable calendars.

Another way to manage your schedule online is by using a desktop wallpaper that serves as artwork and a monthly calendar. Graphic designers such as Dawn Nicole Designs and Bonnie Christine create free downloadable, aesthetically pleasing and practical wallpapers for each month!

Bonnie Christine’s October-inspired desktop wallpaper

The key to staying organized and on top of your schedule is to take the time to find a method that works for you. Use these methods to base your scheduling but make adjustments to create a plan that is the most convenient and effective for you!